Wed - nes - DAY! Just the crumbs, please!

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Its another gorgeous day despite starting out a bit rainy in the city. The temperature is pleasant and it brings out buried people pleasantries. Ahhh...Spring/summer. I say that cause its nice before it gets too hot and humid to have the arid breeze that massages us through the day.

What does anyone know about deer whistles and do they work? ....personal accounts only please.

The other night my honey and I were blazing down the highway (yes, I was driving) I-40 with a large diesel truck to my left just after dark. Of course we were in excess of 50mph when these glowing eyes bounded into the lane; then two other eyes. The other driver slammed on his brakes just as I did the same. It could have been really bad; but thanks God, it wasn't. I continued on to Demos' Steakhouse only to discover absolutely no damage from my slight bump of the large animal. By then, Pickle's heart had slowed down enuf to eat a bite.

Anyway, as some of you might know, I am an avid "Appleon" — a die-hard Macintosh Disciple for the last 16 years. Having only lately discovered the iPOD and its musings, it has really transformed my busy days and the times in between. I don't think I would enjoy the commitment of podcasting; but it has some merit.

Little Mickey's Penultimate Podcasts
Unpredictablely Cool Delicious, a real mix of anything unexpected: Pod of Funk!
Cool ambient house music: Thinktoy
Excellent relationship/marriage improvement tips: Great Relationships
Cool everything, head bobbing music: Heavy Rotation
Ok...call the COW! This one rocks too. Its electronic madness: Apocalypse Cow
So your day needs some internal tweeking, try Bach: Bach Unleashed

Todays Cool Tip Idea:
Remember a gift doesn't always come with a price tag. Some of the most special and precious gifts are a Big 'ole bear hug, or a gift of service. Doing something for someone just out of the blue may mean more then any material gift. A homemade card or made up poem of how you really feel can be very rewarding to that person. Plus it's a gift that keeps on giving...

BONUS TIP:
Everyone knows about pouring vinegar down the sink to
freshen the smell, but don't pour vinegar right out of
the bottle. First run the vinegar through the coffee
pot to clean that, or do any of the other many chores
you do with vinegar, and THEN run the USED vinegar
down the sink. It works just as well, and you save
even more.

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You can't hide clean!

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Some things stick with you after childhood. Momma didnt raise no slob. There's just no sense in doing something if you arent going to do it well. Clean is something that cant be mistaken for anything else. It has a brilliance and gleem. It has an orderliness and percision. It outshines its surroundings because of itself. You can spot a clean person a mile away. True cleanliness finds a way to boil over into every aspect of a life. It cannot be cornered to just one little corner...it wont be satisfied. This blog comes after someone at the office asked me why I was mopping the floor. "This isnt your home" was the statement; my response, "so long as it has my name on the the job, it is. The floor was dirty." Why would I wait for someone else to do what was necessary to be done now. Why wouldnt we treat our surroundings as our own and take care of them. What does it take for someone not to have to be told to do what is obviously needed. My daddy once said, "you aint grown just because you're big. You're grown when you do what needs to be done without being told, when you think for and beyond yourself, then you'll be grown..." He's a genius when it comes to commonsense things!



The older I get the more fanatic I seem to be about washing my hands. I watched the Aviator and grew slightly concerned. I shake a lot of hands; but I absolutely MUST wash my hands before eating no matter how much of a disruption if might cause. That goes without saying any of the other important times to wash your hands. I am also not persuaded by merely a clean smell. Smell can be faked when it comes to clean. My cleaning lady does a great job; but I can help but think I would prefer to do it all myself. Then I KNOW. I confess it feels great coming home to a clean house but I love cleaning and seeing the dirt go away and where it accumulates and how much there is....strange I know. Yes, its hard work and I am grateful for not having to do it myself; but I have no quams about working hard and claiming my responsibilities.


In spite of that last statement; we can all think of times or aquaintances who are really good in a particular area; but everything else just goes to pot. Some of us are really good a our professional disciplines but have none when it comes to our personal or daily lives or families. Its funny how a drop in the ocean doesnt change the whole ocean despite the theories of ripple effects. One thing is for sure...we can make our drop as potient as possible by making it as pure as possible.


Sure everything that looks gold aint; but gold doesnt shine like aluminum [ok...I have no idea where that came from but there wasnt any return address]. Little things count and little things matter a lot. For instance: a blind grandparent still showing up at your gymnastic competition — he may not be able to see you; but the impact of his presence will shine for generations to come.


I am convinced that you cant save the world. The world doesnt want to be saved. BUT; there are those everyday that just need a nudge or smile to go on breathing, hoping and maybe even just for an excuse to endure one more day on this lucky mud in space that they encounter someone else who is equally broken but not in the same way to lend a hand.


You cant hide clean. You cant bottle love. Who can capture the wind? In our purest forms, we are magnificently great and horribly terrifying...but its our choice. Think about all the things we go to great lengths to hide; then think of the things that we never even considered hiding. What cloaks do we use to conceal if not smiles, happiness, love, posessions, money, etc.?



Clean must be pretty important! Its referred to many times and done by some of the greatest people in history.

Who's Bad?

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I drove into the city this morning and was greeted by Michael Jackson Thriller playing on the radio. Ah...a landmark in time for us old people. Well its that time of the year again where some begin to draw their odd battle lines. It's Halloween or its Harvest Festival or whatever.... People love to dress up as something or someone else. Rarely do you see anyone come to a Halloween party as themselves or even as their best friends....why?


We need the absense of information that we can only get from a fantasy or a stranger. That's whats so nice about being someone else; you dont know them; hence, anything goes! Some say its like being drunk; its a built in excuse for all the things you didnt have the carrots to bite off before. Let's face it. Most of us are just Clark Kents without a Superman day job. Sad kinda. But imagine the burden of being Superman all the time ....whew!


Some of the good things about Halloween include watching the little kiddies come by in their little costumes. Its also a good chance to chat with the neighbors or at least see what they look like. Candy...well, that goes without saying. Dress up and costumes; got no beef with that either. I dont know what I will do tonite; but I am leaning toward locking the doors, killing the lights and spending some Halloween with my wifey...but she will probably want to see the little ones and their little costumes. Either way, its good for me.



The one other noteable thing is the scary movies! We LOVE terror or at least watching someone else's terror. Aside from all the classics that will be on all week; you can even venture out to haunted houses or in Nashville, they have haunted tours where you can go hear ghost stories and visit "haunted" residences. That sounds like fun. I think I want to vacation in a haunted house or at least actually see a haunting....but thats just me. Whatever is what, make it safe, keep it safe and help everyone to see the day after alive.

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Hawaii Pictures at LAST!

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Well I know I have been promising and promising; but I am finally delivering. Mind u, it is a work in progress. Pictures from our great Maui adventure.
Click Here...
I still miss it.... Now accepting free tickets to Maui or Hawaii.

Thursday Tickles

So Today I need a few funnies, call it a lite day.
Play Space Invaders!
Play Tetris, the greatest block game ever created!

It's FRIDAY FIXINS'

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AH yes!!! It's Friday. Here's a great new recipe that I got from Tiny that I call "Tiny's Southern Fried French Green Beans!" I have know Tiny forever; hence I take her opinion as gospel...and she wasnt wrong on this one.

"Tiny's Southern Fried French Green Beans!"
Ingredients:
one small onion
1 tsp of cooking oil
1 tsp of sugar
4 strips of your favorite bacon (I use Wright's Bacon)
2 cans of french style green beans, drained
1 tsp of red wine vinegar

Begin by adding cubed bacon to a hot skillet. As the bacon fries, quarter the small onion and cut one quarter into bits and add to skillet (onion lovers can add more. As the items are frying loudly in the pan, begin to add the green beans in half can increments to maintain the frying temperature, stirring them into the hot bacon grease (smells southern already). After all the green beans have been added, cover and simmer for 5 mins on low heat. Add vinegar, stir, add sugar sprinkled over the top and simmer for another 3 minutes. Stir. Green beans should be a bit duller green with a most delicious aroma. Serve as is or on a bed of crispy battered onions. You can even cook in some fresh mushrooms and/or green peppers and frame a nice steak for the perfect meal.


MMMMMM......mmmmmm; pass the gravy.

!!!
M

It's a Fearless Friday! — Friday Fixins too!

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Greetings! Its a beautiful Friday again and I bet you are all set for the weekend. Me too! First things first! Hello, my name is Micheal and I am a geek. Today is my love a geek day so I included this link to my wishlist if you feel like sharing or just being nice! Cool. On to Friday Fixins!!! This one is smooth, easy, creamy and quick. You will love it and I didn't add all the variations; but you can do that yourself.

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Cheesecake Cookie Cups
12 pieces NESTLE Toll House Chocolate chip cookie bar dough
1 8oz pkg cream cheese softened (I use philadelphia)
1/2 cup NESTLE Carnation Sweetened Condensed Milk
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla and a dash of lemon
1 21oz can of cherry pie filling

Preheat your oven to 325 degrees. Place 1 piece of cookie dough in 12 paper-lined muffin cups. Bake for 10-12 mins. Beat cream cheese, milk, egg and vanilla/lemon in a medium bowl until smooth. Pour 3 tablespoons of mixture over each cookie.

Bake for another 15-18 minutes or until set. Cool completely. Top with pie filling. Refrigerate 1 hour. Makes 12 cookie cups.

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MMMMMM.....Momma stop! This quick-fix is a hit with anything breathing! Not to mention, by the time you try your own favorite cookie dough, add nuts or even throw in some Cool Whip and strawberries. Oh well...have a great one. Don't forget to tell us how they turned out!!!! more great recipes

Fearless...Knowing Ourselves

I had a fantastic weekend jam-packed with quality time, leisure time and just good times. I watched an interesting movie last night before surrendering to the enlightenment of sleep. The short and sweet of the tale:

Basicly, Starring: Jet Li, Betty Sun, Dong Yong, Nakamura Shidou; Directed by: Ronny Yu
Jet Li's Fearless Plot: Based on a true story, Jet Li's 'Fearless' tells the life of legendary martial arts master Huo Yuanjia.
Deeply humiliated by his father's death in a public duel, a young Huo resolves to become the best fighter he can be. But soon his incredible fighting skills cost him the lives of the people he loves most when his family are killed in a brutal revenge attack. Yuanjia flees, no longer caring whether he lives or dies. Just as he is ready to give up hope, he is saved by Granny Sun and her blind granddaughter who accept him into the idyllic village where they live. Guided by their simple kindness and generosity, Yuanjia finds a new way of life and discovers something truly worth fighting for.

No, this would not probably be an Oscar-nominated movie; but it probably should be seen by anyone who wants to better themselves or remind themselves what's important in life. As usual, we tend to have to be humbled by something; some of us require more harshness than others. As usual, it takes an encounter of some kind with another living being to better see ourselves. As usual, through learning from our mistakes, we can transcend our original vision for our lives to something far more spectacular and wholesome. However; as usual, everyone can be forgiven; but that does not wipe away the consequences. This movie does a very effective but subtle communication of these life processes. I know, you already tuned me out when you realized it was a "kungfu" type movie. Hey, "there's a lot you can do, in KungFu!" Don't judge the message because of the messenger. It's a stunning sequence of action and emotional introspect. You will also catch a glimpse at how Time changes places, people, what they focus on and what some will do to ensure a place in the future.

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10 Tips For Conquering Your Fears

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Thanks coastergallery.com.

Here's part of an email I received that really struck home hard. But first a little story. My wife and I went to Vegas and I had a severe "fear" of rollercoasters; or maybe it was just a fear of not being in control, being a helpless passenger. My freind Brown had given me a list of all the greatest rides and thrills and must-sees. Anyway, we decided to get on this coaster named "Speed." My guts were churning long before we got into line. After being in line, I kinda joked around to relieve my gnawing anxiety, trying to keep it hidden and appear cool about it all. Maybe it was 5 seconds that I turned back to her and made some wise crack as the car in front of me, being first in line, sped away! Then the most alarming thing happened; I heard the rushing wind of the car returning in maybe 5 blinks of my eyes. My heart was doing but-kicks at this point. "OMG!!! Is this the same coaster that JUST left?" we each thought to ourselves. Well, of course, we got in; afterall there was no way to get out of line. ARRRRRGGGGGHHHHH!!!!! The little handles came down and I felt my mind leave my skull from the teeth-clenching speed of take-off! It was HORRIFIC at best! My forearms were getting sore just from my grip and my mind was debating death as I witnessed what was next on the ride — a gut-vomiting loop and plunge. My mind was lurching at full pace, trying to recapute any sense of control or bodily functions. Everything was threatening mutiny! What had I done? Even worse; I never gave my wife a second thought. Afterall, she loved these things! She's a "Cedar Pointe" lover.

Then in one agonizing second, I did it. I had caught up with everything. I was able to look around and see how much fun everybody was having. I was able to reason that kids do this all the time, surely I can, it's safe, this is entertainment! In these terrifying five seconds, I had been transformed. I WAS in control. I shouted and roared at its every turn and dip as if I were riding the metallic alligator under my own guise. My mind charged into every turn and every unknown lurking ahead. It was then that I looked over at my terrified wife next to me. This WASN'T her favorite ride...she did NOT like this coaster. In her infinite wisdom, she had bought us free rides for the rest of the night. I ran to get back in line, dragging her trembling body behind me. She was even more terrified the second time and I couldn't convince her into another attempt. Speed satisfied me. I stared into her razor-sharp glistening teeth and those empty void orbs with my lucid smile without coveting my fear any longer. I can still feel that fear if I try and remember it. IT was savage and all-consuming. It's still out there, just hidden in different endeavors. This is the email I received...

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10 Tips for Conquering your Fears!

Have you ever had a fear that kept you from living life fully? Perhaps this fear has stopped you from having MORE fun or experiencing GREATER success. Yes? You're not alone. I have too.

What's your "rollercoaster"? I bet you have one, or many. We all do. What fear, if you conquered it, would allow you to have a bit more fun, experience greater success, or live life more fully? Some fears feel bigger to conquer than others. My rollercoaster fear may not seem like the biggest fear one could have, but having it caused me to isolate myself from people and kept me from having MORE fun, joy and exhilaration in my life.

Conquering your fears, one by one, builds confidence and increases your quality of life. Don't let your fears hold you back from living the life you wish you were living.

10 Tips For Conquering Your Fears:

   1. Recognize a fear is present
   2. Declare you are going to conquer the fear
   3. Expect to feel anxious, awkward and scared
   4. Consider copying a style you like until you find your own style
   5. Focus your attention
   6. Motivate yourself with affirmations
   7. Step into the fear with abandon
   8. Let go and have fun! Remind yourself to keep breathing
   9. Pat yourself on the back when it's over
   10.Notice how much easier it gets

When you have time, take a personal inventory of the fears keeping you from living the life you want. Then make a commitment and challenge yourself to face and conquer one them that's been holding you back. Use the tips above to guide your way. To get started, see if any common fears from the list below fit you:

Admitting mistakes or wrong-doings. Adventure. Being inadequate/not good enough. Doing something you've never done before. Expressing yourself. Failure. Healing emotional wounds. Health concerns. Money/finances. Never having enough. Public speaking. Promoting yourself. Saying "NO". Sharing your feelings. Taking a risk, such as starting a business or changing careers. Traveling.

And once you've figured out what your fears are... CONQUER them!

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The Other Side...of the week...

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Well its been an extremely long and slow week full of diverse attentions. But at last it's Friday and I am forging through. The other side of the hill is in sight and I can see the path before me just before gravity makes my full commitment. A man's home is his castle. Hopefully your castle is safe, peaceful and full of joy. It is my refuge from everything outside my heart. I like that. It may rain, sleet or even snow; I don't care; I will be home. Well I will have to go out occassionally; but I prefer to go out when it might be just a bit dangerous/adventurous. My nephews will celebrate birthdays this weekend. It will be nice to see their cheer and zest. Kids have a way of enjoying life that most of us adults have long forgotten. I never want to forget the energy and thrill from just doing something for the fun of it and having an outlook that more fun is around the corner. May my best days always be ahead. I have a giant Superman coloring book for just such a break from adulthood. There's nothing like a 64 Crayola Crayon box with the sharpener in back and a full coloring book sprawled out on the floor as you color into a mental release. It helps if you hang your tongue out just a bit. Sometimes I even get family and friends to join me. It reminds me of things I really like: jumping in mud/water puddles, blowing bubbles, making airplanes, doodling, making paper boats, walking in the tall grass and jumping into a huge pile of leaves. That's the magic of innocent imaginations. I never needed video games or thought about blowing up things....guess I was kinda boring. I am convinced that the world would have more happy adults if we stay kids.

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It will also be a great weekend for some good cuddling. The weather outside is frightful.... That will be nice too. Have a great weekend and do something unimportant and see the power of small things. Hello Utah, CA, FL, GA and of course TN friends.